Donna Gore happy to spend another Mother's Day at Abilene western event

Donna Gore was at the merchandise table Friday at the Western Heritage Classic, assisted by grandson Oscar Barnett, 4, whom she calls "our little traveling buddy." She said he told his mother - her daughter Addie - he liked hangin' out with his grandmother "because she loves me."(Photo: Greg Jaklewicz/Reporter-News)Buy Photo

Gore and her husband, Jeff, will celebrate their 15th Mother's Day at the Taylor County Expo Center. It's where they've been since Thursday, when they parked their camper for a stay at the 34th annual Western Heritage Classic.

"She has been an amazing wife and an amazing mother," he said. "She has been a blessing to me. I'm a rough guy but she's a sweet and godly woman."

They've been busy at the cowboy poetry and music presentations, as well as assisting at the ranch rodeos.

Together, they'll present Sunday's cowboy church service, a spirit-filled sendoff to competitors and attendees as they hit the trail home, wherever that may be.

The Gores will sing, and Jeff will preach.

When that's done, it's finally family time. The Gores' two daughters, Abilene residents Addie and Molly, and their families will celebrate the special day with lunch. The Gores have a son, Mark, who lives out of town. Addie has four sons.

The grandparents go by Pa and Darlin'.

"We'll have a big family lunch, go out somewhere," Donna said. "Then, everyone will go their own way. We'll go home and rest ... we'll need it."

By Wednesday, they'll be on the road again, this time to Idaho.

They're country folks

Jeff and Donna Gore live "out in the country" in Coleman County. Their place is small and full of stuff, Donna said, so there's no need for a Mother's Day gift to fill an empty place.

"And I'm not his mother," she said, laughing.

She once bought a present for her husband for their summer anniversary at the Classic.

"He doesn't need anything now," she said. Maybe grooming products?

"He's always had a full beard and mustache," she said.

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Jeff Gore, famous for his western-style mustache and beard, performs Friday at the pavilion at the Taylor County Expo Center. He and his wife, Donna, have been at the Western Heritage Classic the past 15 years.(Photo: Greg Jaklewicz/Reporter-News)

There have been sweet gifts given these 34 years.

When they were dating, she made a card using crayons and construction paper, on which she drew stick figures of them at the beach.

He turned that into a song. Over the years, Jeff's written three more and sang one, "Your Cowboy Loves You," Friday during his performance at the Expo Center pavilion after reminding his audience not to forget Mother's Day.

"My favorite," she said.

Other songs for her are "Sunset in Her Eyes" and "Now That I Found You."

How they got together

The couple met when her best friend from high school and his cousin wed in 1981. The couple-to-be wanted Jeff and Donna to follow their lead, so they chose them as best man and maid of honor. The plan worked, though dating didn't start until 1982. Because there still was college to finish, they did not marry until 1984.

Donna has been teased about being married to a handsome cowpoke who writes love songs and has been in a couple of movies.

"I'm the one who keeps him grounded," she said. She calls his melodic singing a "God-given thing" and is pleased Jeff blended his two aims in life — to be a cowboy and a minster.

They were church staff members until 1992, the last time at First Baptist Church in Early.

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Oscar, 4, amuses himself while his grandmother, Donna Gore, right, listens to her husband and Oscar's grandfather, Jeff, perform Friday at the Western Heritage Classic.(Photo: Greg Jaklewicz/Reporter-News)

This match hit a snag when they were dating and attending Howard Payne University in Brownwood. She was interested in foreign mission work but he was not.

"We almost broke up," she said. "But God told me he had a plan for me."

The couple compromised. Much of what they do today is mission work, but it's traveling the United States. While he feeds spiritual needs, she feeds cowboys. She recently prepared 400 meals over two days at a ranch rodeo in Alpine.

"Those young cowboys, she's been like a mother figure to them," he said.

And for their family, too.

"As different as our kids are, they learned to love each other because she instilled that in them," he said. "She has a mother's heart."

Donna Gore's cooking tip of the day

Every cowboy's wife has made cobbler at some point, some better than others. Donna does not make peach cobbler with cinnamon but uses lemons instead. "They keep the peaches tender," she said. She has heard no complaints from Jeff.

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Nothing says real cowboy than jeans tucked in boots to show off the fancy footwear. These boots belong to cowboy singer-preacher Jeff Gore, who performed at the Western Heritage Classic. Greg Jaklewicz/Reporter-News

Becaco Son Down, a ranch horse from the Flowers Ranch, went for $17,500 at Saturday morning's sale at the Western Heritage Classic. Auctioneer Steve Friskup both entertained buyers and onlookers, and kept the price rising. Greg Jaklewicz/Reporter-News

Steve, left, and Travis Phipps attended Saturday morning's ranch horse sale at the Western Heritage Classic.It's Steve Phipps' fourth WHC, and they'll stock up on tack before returning to their home in Billings, Missouri. Greg Jaklewicz/Reporter-News

Two things showed up for Saturday's ranch horse sale - bidders in cowboy hats and money in their checking account. Horses fetched a good price at the sale. Each horse was shown attendees. Greg Jaklewicz/Reporter-News

When they say to saddle up, well, there are plenty to choose from each year at the Western Heritage Classic. In addition to the demonstration and good food, visitors could shop for almost anything western. Greg Jaklewicz/Reporter-News

Donna Gore was at the merchandise table Friday at the Western Heritage Classic, assisted by grandson Oscar Barnett, 4, whom she calls "our little traveling buddy." She said he told his mother - her daughter Addie - he liked hangin' out with his grandmother "because she loves me." Greg Jaklewicz/Reporter-News

Jeff Gore, famous for his western-style mustache and beard, performs Friday at the pavilion at the Taylor County Expo Center. He and his wife, Donna, have been at the Western Heritage Classic the past 15 years. Greg Jaklewicz/Reporter-News

Who's hungry? A batch of biscuits cooks cowboy-style Saturday morning at the Western Heritage Classic. Chuckwagon crews were judged on their skills and WHC attendees could taste their grub, too. Greg Jaklewicz/Reporter-News

Anna Albert, 4, stands outside the barn, which really was a food vendor booth at the Western Heritage Classic. She was there with her sister, 2-year-old Lora. And their mother. Greg Jaklewicz/Reporter-News